Smokies Take Game Three, Suns Lead Series 2-1
Kodak, Tenn. - In game three of the Southern League Championship Series, Starlin Castro grounded a single into centerfield driving home Brandon Guyer for the game-ending run as the Tennessee Smokies (4-3) defeated the Jacksonville Suns (5-1) 5-4 in front of 2,376 Friday night at Smokies Park.
Jacksonville leads the series two games to one, as Tennessee has forced game four on Saturday night at 7:15 ET.
Smokies reliever Marcos Mateo (2-1) pitched three scoreless innings for the victory. Suns reliever Kasey Olenberger (0-1) fell in the loss, giving up the ninth inning run.
Jacksonville opened the scoring in the first inning as Scott Cousins knocked home Ryan Klosterman with a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 score. Tennessee countered with three first inning runs off Suns starter Brad Stone. Blake Lalli, Marquez Smith and Welington Castillo each drove in runs with singles for a 3-1 Smokies lead.
The Suns tied the game in the second inning on a two-out, two-run homerun from Bryan Petersen for a 3-3 score.
Jacksonville regained the lead in the third inning on another Scott Cousins sacrifice fly for a 4-3 Suns lead.
Tennessee tied the game in the fifth inning on a two-out RBI double from Tyler Colvin for a 4-4 score.
Brandon Guyer started the ninth inning rally with a single, stole second base and scored on the Castro single to centerfield for the 5-4 final.
Suns RH Elih Villanueva will face Smokies RH Andrew Cashner in game four of the series Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET. Live internet coverage will be available on 930thefox.com with radio coverage available on WFXJ-AM 930 the Fox following Florida Gators football.
Jacksonville leads the series two games to one, as Tennessee has forced game four on Saturday night at 7:15 ET.
Smokies reliever Marcos Mateo (2-1) pitched three scoreless innings for the victory. Suns reliever Kasey Olenberger (0-1) fell in the loss, giving up the ninth inning run.
Jacksonville opened the scoring in the first inning as Scott Cousins knocked home Ryan Klosterman with a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 score. Tennessee countered with three first inning runs off Suns starter Brad Stone. Blake Lalli, Marquez Smith and Welington Castillo each drove in runs with singles for a 3-1 Smokies lead.
The Suns tied the game in the second inning on a two-out, two-run homerun from Bryan Petersen for a 3-3 score.
Jacksonville regained the lead in the third inning on another Scott Cousins sacrifice fly for a 4-3 Suns lead.
Tennessee tied the game in the fifth inning on a two-out RBI double from Tyler Colvin for a 4-4 score.
Brandon Guyer started the ninth inning rally with a single, stole second base and scored on the Castro single to centerfield for the 5-4 final.
Suns RH Elih Villanueva will face Smokies RH Andrew Cashner in game four of the series Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET. Live internet coverage will be available on 930thefox.com with radio coverage available on WFXJ-AM 930 the Fox following Florida Gators football.